Teacher Interviews – Alex
Interview questions were answered by Alex – an English teacher over here in Beijing, China. About to embark on a new role as a Homeroom teacher at a highly regarded training centre here in Beijing.
- Why did you decide to teach in China?
- I wanted to travel and see China and learn the Chinese language and culture. I felt changing careers from television to English teaching would give me the opportunity to learn new skills and experience new things.
- What advice would you give someone looking to start their teaching journey here in China?
- Prepare before coming to China, learn a few phrases, and download all the apps, especially a VPN so that you are ready when you land. A few phrases will make life much easier, such as numbers, and impress the locals. Try new experiences too, it’s easy to shy away from the culture shock but taking it head on will make your time here all the better.
- Who is your biggest inspiration within the teaching community?
- My colleague who always comes to school with a smile and ready to hug all her students, it’s really great to see that kind of energy and gets you in the mood yourself, as well as giving me helpful advice on how to run my class.
- How have you found the experience of dealing with recruiters over here in China?
- I had great experiences, some a bit difficult. Kieron was really great to speak to and spoke to me frankly, some recruiters weren’t the same so finding one that works with you is refreshing.
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Having a certificate in Chinese and hopefully using it somewhere in Asia or Europe.
On behalf of everyone at Ignite. We would like to thank you for your time in providing insight into your whole journey. Good luck with your next chapter!